PENPARCAU’S Martin Thomas has won his first final of the PDC UK Challenge Tour.

He proved too strong for Shaun McDonald, winning the final of Event Seven of the season 5-2 at Milton Keynes on Friday.

On his way to the final, bricklayer Thomas, who had finished runner-up in Event One, beat Connor Scutt 5-1, Russell Murphy 5-2, Daniel Day 5-3, Rhys Hayden 5-1, and Robert Thornton 5-4 before whitewashing Reece Robinson 5-0 in the semi-final.

Heading into Event 12 this evening the overall Order of Merit winner is still to be decided, with a number of players in the running.

This year’s Challenge Tour has been split into a separate circuit for both British and European players due to travel restrictions still in place because to the corona pandemic.

The winners of British and European tours will be allowed to participate in the upcoming World Championship and receive a PDC Tour Card for 2022 and 2023.